After co-pilot interrogation, growing Israeli assessment: He acted as a lone attacker
Following the interrogation of Hamam al-Hammami, the co-pilot and alleged attacker aboard flydubai Flight 1073, the growing assessment in Israel is that he acted as a lone attacker. This was reported Sunday on Kan News’ “Half Day” program on Reshet Bet radio.
Meanwhile, new details published Sunday in an investigation by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera indicated that the Omani co-pilot disengaged the autopilot during the flight, pushed the controls fully forward and shut down both engines. The aircraft lost approximately 16,000 feet of altitude in about 30 seconds.
Two Boeing 737 captains who analyzed videos said the emergency lights in the passenger cabin came on at high altitude. The lights are activated when the aircraft loses its main electrical power supply and switches to battery power, which can occur if the generators or engines are shut down.
Investigators are examining whether the fuel switches were moved from the “Run” position to “Cut Off.”
The emergency code 7700 was transmitted by one of the pilots who was called to the cockpit. About seven minutes later, it was changed to 7500, indicating a suspected hijacking.
